Self-locking cashbox



1952 H. E. FORESTER SELF-LOCKING CASH BOX 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1946 HAR QLD E. FoREsTEE:

V INVENTOR. BYM/ ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1952 H. E. FORESTER 2,580,752

SELF-LOCKING CASH BOX Filed Dec. 18, 1946 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 F 3 |AA\\ 5 I e: b as H E f 59 23 19 INVENTOR.

V 47 &W/%/m ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UN I TED STATES PATENT OFFICE s-ELF-LooKINGfoA-smsox Harold E. Forester, Chicago; 111:, assignor' to Johnson Fare Box Company, Chicago; 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 18, 19.46, S.erial'N0.. 716,920;

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a cash box for use incheck operated machines. More specifically, it relates to a container which is opened as it isinserted in the machine, and held open during the time it is in the machine to receive the coins inserted butv is closed incidental to the operation of removing. the box.

I-tfihas long been a problem in coin collection to prevent unauthorized. removal of'coins from atcollect'ion box by the person who is authorized to. removethefbox. from. the vending machine or other. coincollecting machine for transportation to an accounting oihce.

I The prior art discloses some boxes which must away to show the parts in the reset position.

Figure '4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the parts in the coin receiving position with the coin box latched in place.

a Figure 5' is a viewsimilar to Figures 3 and 4 f2 showing, the parts. in. the.

position. v v

Figure 6' is a view similartoFigures 3"tof5' but showing the parts in the finallocked' position... Figure 7 is asectional view taken online. l -l of Figure 1' showing the cash removal door mounting. j Figure 8 is a side elevation of the coiniunnel. Referring now to Figure 1,, the num'eraf'lf represents a cash. .box. receiver which is fi'xedipermanenty to the vending machine and" is; formed oi a back plate 3, substantially coextensive with the rear of the cash box ll ,.and which is provided at its upper, right-hand and lower edges with intermediat'e latched be opened. andlinserted in. a machine so that a 35 channels 5, I and: 9 of U-shaped. cross-section mechanism will close. and? lock the box as it is so that: the cash boxv must-1 beyslidiinto-p withdrawn from. the machine. Various 'methfrom'the-leftmig. 1). i v c adshave been. devised by persons intent upon The. cash box l'l comprises a rear-wall l 3,1bot1-' pilfering fromtheseboxes, for either preventing to Wit- 1 1 a l' ri nd 9 and leftthemtirom closing andlocking or for reopening end. 2|, the latter-having :afiixed thereto:'a-ham them -after.they have been mechanically closed. (118 23. frontiwall '25 constitutes a dool lit-Ni an. object of. the invention to provide a cover and is provided with inwardly-'andedowns device of the kind described in which the selfwardlybentearsil'l Whichhoflkoveliian closing box is latched in the machine until it is upw dly turned flange 9 thebottom; closed. p V The ends and. topof the door-aretflangedin- Another object of the invention is to provide y'a t t0 fitvOVer e e andili an. apparatus inwhich the box is locked closed a d 130Dv wa I! so that-n0 c v ce W ll remain before it. is released from the machine. Op throughwhich a: fl y' Yet another object of theinvent'ion is to pro- (1001" p j downwardly y e fl ge 9 vide a, box. havin several stages of locking to as showmat ifl tosealthenlower endofxthebox; prevent unauthorized reopening after it is once A br k t -is'fixed to and extends down. from closed. top- I! so ast'o be engaged'by the bolt (not shownoistill. another object of the invention is to proof a Operated 1061i which. s fix d vide. amechanism by which the box is closedpreupper-endiof'thedboli paratoryt'o its removal. 35 Thewpper' wall l l'is slotted along the dotted A further object" of, t ent is to provide 1ine- 39- (Fig'-. 4); and a short, rectangular tube afine'chanism by whic th b is. dosed a fll-is fixedtherein; I The opening in the tube slid-.- locked. prior to. removal and is held in the. maably receives and provides: a: Passage for the chine until it is-closed, shank 45 of acoiniunnel' 43 'throughthe upper p i v wall IT. The lower end ofthe shank'i's bevelled than?tastiestgrasses? 3' at n o insure" e-ejec ion 0 -c'oins ere Tom; fii ggfif and form a part A headed pivotpin=49 is riveted to the under Fi 1 i f th h b t V neath side of the top-ll and pivotally-carriesthe f s a f 0X m he latching bar 5i which is in the. form of :a bell ih crank having arms 53' and 55. The lever lies Figure 2' 1s-an elevation of the locking and C1 eto1theunder ideofto I'L closure. mechanism, the case being broken away. The arm 55 is provided with two projections "fi i or plan View of the mecha- 5'! and 5!),of which 5! serves as a latching means, nism of Figure'ZWith the box and receiver broken 50 which are adapted t project thrgugh sk t 6| nd 63 in the rear and right end walls l3 and I9 respectively of the box;

An abutment 65 is fixed to the inside of channel 1 adjacent slot 63 in position to be contacted by the projection 59.

The projection or latching means is in alignment with a horizontal slot 61 in the back plate 3 of the receiving bracket and since the box fits slidably but relatively snugly in said bracket, the projection in certain positions of the lever 5| serves to latch the box in place.

A bracket 69 is fixed to the wall I9 of the box and lies under the arm 55 of lever 5| to assist in supporting it in alignment with the slots BI, 53 and 61.

.A spring II is attached to a depending pin 13 fixed in arm 53 and to a clip fixed to the wall |3 of the box and serves to urge the bar 5| in a clockwise direction (Figs. 3 to 6).

One edge of the arm 53 is notched at 11 so as to clear the bracket 35.

A round stop pin 19 and a square, pawl locking pin 8| are fixed to the under side of the box top l1. The pin 19 is disposed near the corner formed by the walls l3 and 2|, while pin 8| is disposed near the corner formed by wall 2| and the cover or door and with its sides at an angle to said wall and cover.

Pivotally mounted on the underneath side of arm 53 by means of a pin 83 is a locking pawl 85 which is provided with a projection 81, and an intermediate and an outer tooth or step 89, 9| respectively.

A spring 93 is coiled about pin 83 and has one and bearing on a pin 95 depending from pawl 85 and the other bearing on a pin 91 depending from arm 53.

. Operation With the coin box empty and ready to insert in theyending machine, the locking lever 5| must occupy the Figure 3 position with the projection 81 of the locking pawl disposed between pin 19 and wall l3. The lever is thus free to rotate counterclockwise aboutpivot 49 and the projection'5'l on arm 55 will enter the receiver |,,clearing the back plate 3 until it partially enters the slot 51 in said plate. The projection 59 extends through slot 63 so as to engage the abutment 65.

A firm. push to the right (Figs. 3 and 4) will cause thelever to rotate counterclockwise to the Figure 4 position by reason of the pressure of abutment 65 on projection 59. The projection 51 isin full engagement in slot 61 in this position';-the' lever has moved out from under the guide tube 4| so that the coin funnel may be inserted and theprojection 87 of pawl 85 has cleared the pin 19 and is now held with its edge against a corner of pin 8| by the spring 93. As shown in Figure 4, the shank '45 of the funnel blocks the return of the lever 5| to the Figure 3, 5 or 6 position and, consequently, prevents the withdrawal of the projection 51 from the slot 51 and-the box is accordingly locked in the case.

After the coins have been collected and it is desired to remove the coin box, it is first necessary; to remove the funnel; after which, pulling on the handle 23 will move the box to the left and spring II will rotate the lever clockwise to the Figure 5 position in which the pin 8| engages the step 9| of locking pawl 85. This is possible because the end IQ of the cash box has moved away from abutment 65.

In this position the projection 51 has not yet moved inwardly far enough to clear the back plate 3. However, it will be seen that the arm 53 has already closed the opening of tube 4|. Since the pin 8| and step 9| are engaged, it is impossible, in any way, even at this' stage, to work the arm in a reverse direction so as to open the box for the removal of money.

When the projection 51 has rotated far enough to clear the back plate 3, the lever 5| will thus be locked against reopening the coin opening.

The final stage is shown in Figure 6, in which the arm 53 is entirely over against the back plate of the box. In this position the pin 8| is engaged by the step 89 of pawl and the projection 51 is clear of the back plate 3 so that the coin box can be removed. Again, however, the opening in tube 4| is closed by arm 53 and cannot be pried or worked open.

The trick of inserting a thin strip or scale between the arm 53 and the upper inside of the tube (Fig. 3) to prevent closure of the tube is foiled because the box would, under such conditions, still be held in the receiver until the Figure 5 position is passed; consequently, even if the arm is held open, the box cannot be inverted or otherwise manipulated to remove coins.

When the box is turned over to the accounting office, an authorized person possessing the key to lock 31 will open the lock, remove cover 25, remove the coins, reset the parts to the Figure 3 position, replace the cover and lock it. The box is then again ready for installation.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is insertable, latching means on the box adapted to be projected to engagesaid receiver, a coin opening in said box, a closure means for said opening having effective and ineffective positions, means interconnecting said latching means and closure to hold the former projected until after said closure means is in efiective position, said latching means, when it is held projected, cooperating with said receiver to prevent withdrawal of the box therefrom, and an actuator in said box positioned to be moved by contact with said receiver when the box is inserted and connected to project said latching means and to move said closure to inefiective position.

2. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is insertable, latching means comprising a lever pivotally mounted in the box and having a projection adapted to be moved away from retracted position to engage the receiver, a coin opening in said box, said lever comprising a closure for said opening having efiective and ineffective positions, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver for moving said closure means to ineffective position and for moving the projection away from its retracted position, and means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure means from ineffective to effective position and for retracting said projection, said projection, when held out of retracted position, cooperating with said receiver to prevent withdrawal of the box therefrom.

3. In a. coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is slidably movable in opposite directions, latching means comprising a lever pivotally mounted in the box and having a projection adapted to be projected from the box to engage the receiver, a coin opening in said box, said lever comprising a closure for said opening having yieldably closed effective and ineffective positions, means for yieldably urging the closure to inefiective position, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver, including a second projection on said lever adapted to engage an abutment for moving said closure means from yieldably closed to ineffective position and to project said latching means, means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure means from inefiective to effective position and means for locking said closure in such effective position, said latching means, when it is held projected, cooperating with said receiver to prevent withdrawal of the box therefrom.

4. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is slidably movable in opposite directions, latching means comprising a lever pivotally mounted in the box and having a locking projection adapted to be projected from the box transversely of said directions to engage the receiver, a coin opening in said box, said lever comprising a closure for said opening having yieldably closed effective and ineffective positions, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver, including a second projection on said lever adapted to move substantially in the same directions as said box to engage an abutment for moving said closure means from yieldably closed to inefi'ective position and to project said latching means, means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure means from inefiective to efiective position and means for locking said closure in such efiective position, said latching means, when it is held projected, cooperating with said receiver to prevent withdrawal of the box therefrom.

5. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is insertable, a coin opening in said box, a closure having opened and closed positions with respect to said opening, a locking pawl on said closure having a locking tooth and having reset, tripped and locking positions, means urging said pawl toward locking position, a stop, a projection on said pawl adapted to engage said stop to hold the pawl in reset position while said closure is in closed position, means for yieldably holding said closure in closed position, a locking abutment for said pawl, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver for moving said closure to open position, thereby withdrawing said projection from said stop so that the pawl will be moved to tripped position against said abutment by said urging means, and means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure to closed position and the locking tooth of said pawl into locking position with said abutment to prevent reopening of said closure.

6. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is insertable, a coin opening in said box, a closure having opened and closed positions with respect to said opening, a locking pawl on said closure having two locking teeth and having reset, tripped and multiple locking positions, means urging said pawl toward locking position, a stop, a projection on said pawl adapted to engage said stop to hold the pawl in reset position while said closure is in closed position, means for yieldably holding said closure in closed position, a locking abutment for said pawl, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver for moving said closure to open position, thereby withdrawing said projection from said stop so that the pawl will be moved to tripped position against said abutment by said urging means, and means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure to closed position and the locking teeth of said pawl serially into locking position with said abutment to prevent reopening of said closure.

7. In a coin collecting mechanism, the combination of a cash box, a receiver into which said box is insertable, latching means on the box adapted to be projected to engage said receiver, a coin opening in said box, a closure having opened and closed positions with respect to said opening, a locking pawl on said closure having a locking tooth and having reset, tripped and looking positions, means urging said pawl toward locking position, a stop, a projection on said pawl adapted to engage said stop to hold the pawl in reset position while said closure is in closed position, means for yieldably holding said closure in closed position, a locking abutment for said pawl, means operable by the insertion of the box into the receiver for moving said closure to open position, thereby withdrawing said projection from said stop so that the pawl will be moved to tripped position against said abutment by said urging means, means operable upon the withdrawal of said box from said receiver for moving said closure to closed position and the locking tooth of said pawl into locking position with said abutment to prevent reopening of said closure, and means for withdrawing said latching means from said receiver after said closure moves to closed position.

HAROLD E. FORESTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,790,673 Mills Feb. 3, 1931 2,109,864 Long Mar. 1, 1938 2,371,114 Von Stoeser Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 57,930 Sweden Dec. 2, 1924 

